Patent filings in India fairly low, says official

Expressing concerns over low number of patent applications filed in the country, a senior government official today said there was a need to create awareness about IP creation and protection across industry.
"I am concerned about the fact that domestic filings of patent applications have remained static in the past few years at about 20 per cent of the overall filings," DIPP Secretary Amitabh Kant said at a conference organised by industry body Ficci here.
"Considering that the country has one of the largest reservoirs of scientists and technologists and given its reckoning as an IT and pharmaceutical hub of the world, it seems extremely unjustified that the levels of patent filings are still fairly low," the official said.

Kant stressed upon the need to improve the level of IP awareness across all sectors. "It is critical that the need for IP creation and protection percolates down across industries, academic institutions and public funded organisations and PSUs," he said.
When asked how the issue of low domestic patent filings can be addressed, Director General of World Intellectual Property Organisation Francis Gurry said: "Awareness, increased awareness on part of the business sector towards R&D ... Overall investment in R&D is about 1 per cent of the GDP in India. It is an area to focus on for enterprises for investment.

"I think that (investment on research and development) will come from Make in India because manufacturing is a competitive industry," he added.

The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) secretary further said that recognising the need to scale up the process of IP creation and increase commercialisation of the technology, the government has embarked on the process of preparing a National IPR Policy.
"We expect it to be a visionary document that can guide the journey of India towards becoming an innovative economy in next 10 years," Kant said on the IPR policy being framed.
The Commerce and Industry Ministry has sought public comments on its proposed National Intellectual Property Rights policy for the consideration of the think tank constituted for the purpose.